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39
(6) Psychological effects on local residents and material effects on their
property including the SE children's hospital
The baneful effect of the gasworks may be considerably more widespread
than covering an area a mile in diameter. The complaints we
have had illustrate the irritation and frustration of the average housewife
in trying to keep her premises clean and her washing done properly,
and also no doubt cover the annoyance of the householder or house-owner
in having his fabric affected and his paint damaged. A recent report
has been received from the South-eastern Children's hospital, which is
across the road from the gasworks but due west of it, extracts from
which are as follows :—"I would like to refer to the excessive grime
with which we have to contend. At certain times of the day when the
wind is blowing from the direction of the Works clouds of fine sparkling
dust can be seen falling on the hospital, and children who are put out on
the balcony for fresh air and sunshine return to their wards quite dirty.
Windows and paintwork need cleaning at least twice as frequently as
at any other hospital in our Group, which adds considerably to our
annual costs for keeping the premises clean and obviously one of the
first essentials in a hospital is that the wards and departments should
be as clean and hygienic as possible."
A detailed statistical table was also submitted on atmospheric
pollution in the Borough in the previous twelve months.
It was suggested by the Board that one of their technical officers
should consider the data contained in the statement, in order to obtain
possible agreement on the likely degree of pollution form the gasworks,
and this was accepted by the Council's representatives. The matter was
still under consideration at the end of the year.
Hither Green railway sidings
A deputation consisting of the Member of Parliament for North
Lewisham, six members of the Council and the appropriate officers
was received by representatives of the Railway Executive for the
Southern Region of British Railways on February 6, when complaints
received from residents in the neighbourhood of these sidings relating
to noise, -smoke and grit, were thoroughly discussed.
The representatives of the Railway Executive explained the reasons
for the inability to find an alternative site for the railway line prefabrication
depot and expressed the opinion that as nightwork at the
depot had now ceased and improved facilities for the loading and
unloading of materials had been provided, the noise arising from the
work being undertaken at this depot was not now a serious cause for
complaint. Most of the dust and dirt complained of was thought to
emanate from the locomotive sheds and an assurance was given that
efforts would be made to secure an improvement in this respect.
No further complaints have in fact been received since the date
of the meeting.